CMYK
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A subtractive color model using cyan, magenta, yellow, and key (black) inks, the standard for commercial printing.
CMYK works by starting with a white surface and subtracting light through layered inks. Cyan absorbs red light, magenta absorbs green, and yellow absorbs blue. The K (key/black) plate is added because mixing CMY inks cannot produce a true, deep black and because using black ink for text and shadows is more economical. CMYK has a smaller gamut than RGB, meaning some vibrant screen colors cannot be reproduced in print. This is why color proofing and conversion from RGB to CMYK is a critical step in any print production workflow.
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